Valve stem testing apparatus



Dec. 25, 1934. R. ADAMS 1,985,673

VALVE STEM TESTING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l A[ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 25, 1934. L. R, ADAMS VALVE STEM TESTING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LELAND R. H

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 25, 1934 PATENT OFFICE VALVE STEM TESTING APPARATUS Leland R. Adams, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Firestone Steel Products Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 16, 1930, Serial No. 453,065

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for testing the depth of foot seats in valve stems.

The general purpose of the invention is the provision of inexpensive, foolproof apparatus upon which the depth of the foot seats in valve stems can be rapidly and effectively checked or tested.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide signalling means in conjunction with the above apparatus to indicate high and low limits of the foot seat depth.

.The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below, it

being understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details thereof shown and described.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the apparatus.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a base 5 formed with a back 6 to which is secured a hood 7. The front portion of the base 5 is recessed to receive a channeled block 8. A pair of signalling lamps 9 are carried by a plate 10 secured to the block 8. A translucent shield 13 may be fastened in front of the lamps if desired to reduce the glare upon the operators eyes.

The numeral 14 indicates a spindle which is screwed into a tapped hole in the base 5. The spindle 14 is preferably made hollow and is connected with a suitable source of compressed air by a conduit 15. The spindle 14 extends vertically through a suitable aperture 16 in the block 8 which is shouldered as at 17. Slidably carried on the spindle 14 is a sleeve 18 having an enlarged flange 19 which engages with shoulder 17 to limit the upward movement of the sleeve 18 on the spindle 14. A spring 20 serves to yieldingly hold the sleeve 18 in its uppermost position.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the spindle 14 is of a diameter permitting a valve stem 23 which is to be tested to just slide thereover. The spindle 14 is formed with a shoulder 24 which engages With a shoulder 25 in the bore of the valve stem which forms the foot seat for the foot of the valve insides.

Secured in the channel of the block 8 but insulated therefrom are a pair of oppositely extending contacts 26 and 27 whose distances from the sleeve 18 are adjustably maintained by screws 28 carried in insulating bushings 29. The contact 26 is somewhat closer to the sleeve 18 than the contact 27 as hereafter explained.

The contacts and lamps are connected as shown in Figure 4 by leads 30 to a suitable source of electric current.

In the operation of the device a valve stem 23 to be tested for the depth of the foot seat is slipped over the spindle 14 and brought down until the shoulder 25 in the valve which defines the bottom of the foot seat contacts with the shoulder 24 on the spindle 14. The final downward movement of the valve stem before the shoulders 24 and 25 engage will cause the end of the valve stem to contact with the sleeve 18 which will move down against the action of the spring 20. If the foot seat is of the proper depth the sleeve 18 will contact with the contact 26 to light one of the signal lamps 9, while if the seat is too deep the sleeve will engage with both contacts 26 and 27 to light both signal lamps 9. If neither lamp lights the seat is too shallow. As will be understood the screws 28 can be adjusted to vary the limits of the foot seat depth.

Compressed air is preferably either continuously passed through the hollow spindle 14 or is passed through at the will of the operator by the operation of valve means (not shown) in the conduit 15. The passing of compressed air through the spindle blows all foreign matter such as dust or chips from the bore of the valve stems and thus allows the proper seating of the shoulders 24 and 25. The hood 7 prevents the foreign matter from blowing in the operators eyes.

While the invention has been particularly described in conjunction with valve stems it will be evident that the principles of the invention .are readily applicable wherever testing apparatus is necessary to determine if the depth of a hole or of a shoulder in a hole is within certain limits.

As many changes could be made in the construction it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, accordingly, various modifications and applications of the invention can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for testing the depth of foot seats "in valve stems comprising a hollow spindle adapted to be inserted into the bore of the valve stem to be tested, means through which fluid under pressure may be introduced into said spindle, a shoulder on said spindle cooperating with the foot seat of the valve stem to be tested to limit movement of the valve stem on the spindle, a sleeve slidable on said spindle, means yieldably positioning :said sleeve on said spindle, and signalling means operable by movement of the sleeve with relation to said spindle for indicating high and low limits of the depth of the foot seat in the valve stem tested.

2. Apparatus for testing the depth of foot seats in valve stems comprising a spindle adapted to be inserted into the bore of the valve stem to be tested, a shoulder on said spindle coperating with the foot seat of the valve stem to be.

tested to limit penetration of the spindle, a sleeve slidable on said spindle and arranged to be moved thereon by the article being tested,means yieldably positioningsaid sleeve on said spindle, and signalling means operable by movement of the sleeve with relation to the spindle for indicating limits of the depth of the .foot seat in the valve stem being tested, said means including a pair of adjustable spring contacts adapted to contact with the sleeve upon sufficient movement thereof upon thespindle.

,3. Apparatus for testing the depth of foot seats in valve stems comprising a spindle adapted to be inserted into the bore of the valve stem to be tested and cooperating with the foot seat of the-valve stem to be tested to limit movement of the valve stem on the spindle, a sleeve slidable on said spindle and movable relatively thereof by the article being tested, means yieldably positioning said sleeve on said spindle, and signalling means operable by movement'of the sleeve as influenced by the movement of the valve stem thereagainst for indicating limits of the depth of the foot seat in the valve stem tested.

4. Apparatus for testing the depth of holes in articles, said apparatus comprising a spindle adapted to be inserted into the hole of the article to be tested, said spindle being adapted to engage a portion of the article in the hole to limit movement of the article on the spindle, said spindle being hollow, means through which fluid under pressure may be introduced into said spindle, a sleeve slidably carried on said spindle, means yieldably positioning said sleeve on said spindle,

andsignalling means operable by movement of the sleeve as influenced by the movement of the valve stem thereagainst for indicating high and low limits of the depth of the hole in the article tested.

v5. Apparatus for testing the depth of foot seats in valve stems comprising a spindle adapted to be inserted into the bore of the valve stem to be tested, a shoulder on said spindle cooperating with the foot seat .of the valve stem to limit penetration of the spindle, and means including a contact member adapted to be engaged by the article and operable by movement of the spindle relative to the stem, prior to maximum penetration of the spindle into the stem, for indicating the low limit of the depth of the foot seat in the valve stem tested.

6. Apparatus for testing the depth of holes in articles, said apparatus comprising a spindle adapted to be inserted into the hole of the article to be tested, a sleeve slidably carried on said spindle, and normally positioned so as to engage the article before the end of the spindle reaches the full depth of the hole therein, means yie'ldably supporting said sleeve on said spindle, and signalling means operable by movement of the sleeve for indicating high and low limits of the depth of the hole in the article tested.

LELAND R. ADAMS. 

